Smoker&#39;s device



E. W. EWESON SMOKERS DEVICE Filed Jan. 27, 1943 INVENTOR ER! c w Ewsso/v W l/M a, ATTORNEYS Patented May 2, 1944 UNlTED res ers'r FFICEZ Claims.

This invention relates to a smokers device, particularly to a combination ash tray which includes means for servicing pipes, and has for an object the provision of improvements in this art.

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide an ash tray which includes a pipe knocker in combination with one or more pipe servicing tools in a compact convenient assembly which is always ready for use and which permits the complete servicing of a pipe by the use of only one hand.

Another object is to provide a simple and effective device for the desired purposes which is inexpensive to manufacture.

It is well known that pipe bowls frequently become packed with ashes or partly burned tobacco which needs to be removed. The usual practice is to try to knock the material out of the bowl, generally with objectionable noise and frequently with the resultant breakage of the pipe. For this purpose it has been customary to provide pipe knockers in ash trays. When the packed material in the bowl does not drop out with knocking, it needs to be loosened to assist removal. For this purpose various hand tools, such as picks or the like have been used. These commonly require the use of both hands, and since the tool is not attached it is frequently misplaced.

According to the present invention an ash tray is provided with a knocker and certain servicing tools as a part of the permanent assembly. In some forms only a cleaner is provided and in others there is also provided a packer for tamping the tobacco in the bowl of the pipe when it is filled.

The objects and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of certain embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawing thereof, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the tray;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the center of the tray, the view being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a partial view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification.

The device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a tray I!) having a relatively wide flat rim H with a downturned outer edge l2. Around the rim there are mounted a plurality of deep-grooved cigarette holders l3 arranged transversely across the rim. These may be used for holding and snufiing cigarettes.

At the center of the tray there is provided a pipe knocker l6 which may be made of resilient material such as cork or balsam wood. When made as a separate element the knocker may conveniently be of spherical shape. surmounting the knocker 16 there is provided a pipe cleaner IT. The end of the cleaner may be slightly curved and flattened on one side at l8 whereby to provide scraping edges and a piercing point. Conveniently the stem it) of the cleaner H extends through the knocker l6 and the raised portion 20 of the base of the tray, and by an upper flange 2| and a lower nut 22 secures both the" knocker and the cleaner to the base. The knocker sits in a socket 23 which rests on the base.

The cleaner is readily accessible for use when the pipe is held upside down upon it. By moving the pipe about on the cleaner the packed material therein is thoroughly loosened and may then be very easily knocked out by tapping the pipe gently against the knocker. The entire operation may readily be performed by one hand because the cleaner and knocker are conveniently mounted together on a relatively heavy base. The material which is removed falls into the tray, leaving the knocker clean and ready for further use at all times. The cleaner is long enough to fully enter all ordinary pipe bowls before the rims of the inverted bowls can touch the knocker.

The cleaner is disposed at an elevation above the upper edge of the tray where it is accessible for use when a pipe is held upside down upon it. The knocker and cleaner are both located where the ashes removed will fall entirely within the tray; and, as shown, the knocker is of a height such that it will not be obstructed by ashes or by the sides of the tray for its intended purpose.

In Fig. 3 a modification is shown in which the stem l9 above the holding flange 2i integrally carries a cleaner I1 and at an angle thereto a tamper 25. The stem passes through the knocker l6 and is secured in the base by a nut 22'. In this embodiment the knocker is made integrally with the tray base and is provided with a hole for the stem of the servicing parts. A moldable material such as glass or heat resisting plastic may be used to form the integral base and knocker. When the parts are molded the knocker conveniently will not be made spherical but rather cylindrical with a rounded end so that it may be readily removed from the mold. Another convenient construction, especially when the parts are made of metal, is to make the tools and knocker as a separate unit which is secured to the base.

It is thus seen that the invention provides a convenient, eflicient and inexpensive assembly for the purposes in view.

While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention may have various embodiments within the limits of the prior art and the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A smokers device comprising in combination, a tray, a spherical resilient pipe knocker inside said tray, a pipe cleaner surmounting said knocker, and a stem on said cleaner which secures the cleaner and the knocker to the base of the tray.

2. A smokers device comprising in combination, a tray, a raised pipe knocker in said tray, said knocker having a convex top elevated sufficiently from the bottom of the tray to prevent obstruction by accumulated ashes and being spaced sufliciently from the sides to avoid 0bstruction to the movements of the pipe, and a pipe cleaner surmounting said knocker, said cleaner being of rod-like shape, longer than the depth of the pipe bowl above the knocker, pointed on the end, and taking only a small space at its base compared to the clear area of the knocker accessible to the pipe.

3. A sm'okers device comprising in combination, a tray, a raised pipe knocker in said tray, said knocker having a convex top elevated sufficiently from the bottom of the tray to prevent obstruction by accumulated ashes and being spaced sufliciently from the sides to avoid obstruction to the movements of the pipe, and a pipe cleaner and a pipe tamper. disposed at an angle to each other surmounting said pipe knocker, said cleaner being of rod-like shape, longer than the depth of the pipe bowl above the knocker, pointed on the end, and taking only a small space at its base compared to the clear area of the knocker accessible to the pipe.

4. A'smokers device comprising in combination, a tray, a, pipe knocker in said tray, said knocker having a convex top elevated sufficiently from the bottom of the tray to prevent obstruction by accumulated ashes and being spaced sufficiently from the sides to avoid obstruction to the movements of the pipe, a pipe cleaner, a pipe tamper, and common means securing said cleaner and said tamper in said tray above said knocker, said cleaner being of rod-like shape, longer than the depth of the pipe bowl above the knocker, pointed on the end, and taking only a small space at its base compared to the clear area of the knocker accessible to the pipe.

5. A smokers device comprising in combination, a tray, a resilient pipe knocker in said tray, a pipe cleaner surmounting said knocker, an integral stem for said cleaner passing through said knocker and the bottom of said tray, and a flange on said stem above said knocker and a nut on the stem below the bottom of said tray for securing the knocker to the bottom of the tray.

ERIC W. EWESON. 

